Conveyer



Jan. 16, 1923.

W. G. HOWE ET AL.

CONVEYER.

FILED APR.27. 1920.

wenn 371mm@ 77'60/5 2?@ '..Ll lllil ....Il

Jan. 16, 1923. 1,442,219. W. G. HOWE ETAL. CONVEYEH.

FILED APR.27. 1920. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. G. HOWE ET AL.

Jan. 16, 1923,

CONVEYER,

FILED APR.21. 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

- Vi m l wwnmmm 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W. G. HOWE ET AL.

CONVEYER.

FILED APR.27. 1920.

?fa feras;

Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

UNITED ,STATE-s WILLIAM G. HoWE, onniis'iioiiins, Aim FRED RAY WiiiTn,. oii QAMVSSIQWA.

f CQNvEYER- i To all whomz't may concern y Be it known that we, Ninnmii G.. Hown -anclFigEn RAY lilium, citizensl of the Unitedv States, and residents of Des Moines and Ames, in the lcounties'oi Polk and Story, in the State of Iowa, respectivelyyhave invented aY certainnew vandv useful Gonveyer,

A further object'isto provide a eonveyerfvv having' a delivery conveyer of novel con-V struction.

A Jfurther object is to providesucli a con-- veyer of the endless type,`-.where by d irtf or removed or inserted, so Vthatthe length of fthe conveyer may b e 'increased or' diminished without interfering the qualitiesv oft-hejconveyer'. Y

Still a Jfurther ob] a conveyer ofthe general typementioned,

and .to provide in the general structure frame" sections and track 4sections having portions so Constructed as to permit the flexibility above mentioned.-

Still afurther object isto provide such a conveyerhavin'g a series of cars or conf Ground without changingthe curvature'of veyer, members, andliavingmeans for con# 'necting the cars together in' such `va way as toperniit the flexibility of ythe l entire conf veyer to exist.`

vStills further object is to providef'such a conveyer in which the cars `are so icon-` neeted together Tasto form practically a continuous chuteor conveying trough".V

AStill a further object is vto provide such Conveye'r members.' l

"Anotherfobject Yis toA providea'conveyer Ywith such steerablesupportingmernbers s0 arranged and constructed Ythat lthe entire conveyer may 'be made to assume-a curved C the -maehine.

l ings, in which: @Ct is to provide such l having steer'abli-iy supporting f iigpiicgtiopniea Apvrii 2'7, i920.' serial No. 377,0ei. V ii Still" a further44 obj eet I is tov provide i such ,a device havinga conveyer member, and having, atthe yend of the main machine, -rotary"`inembeis over 'which `the vconveyer membertravelsgthe partsbeing'so arranged l that whenbne of saidrotary memberslis* rotated, it impartsmOtiOn-to the conveying member, and being;v so arranged. =that byre versin'g'thedirection of -movement joflthe rotarylm'ember, 'the direction *of travel .ofl

the oonveyer may be reversed.

A further object is to provide suchlafde vice having an .endless conveyer, and supporting members thereior,.withmeansA for'` 4so hangiiigf or supportingi the endless :loon-` veyer on the supportingv members thatfthe endless conveyer will :maintain itszlevel or horizontal position .regardlessl of'unevennessy of the. ground yoni members rest; With these' and other objects :infview' our 175 .invention consists in the-construotioin ar rangement.and'conibination ofthe .various parts ofthe -device,":whereby 4the objects oontemplatedj arejattained, y as ihereinafter Vmore 'l 'fully' setl 'forth', pointed out our .claims and illustrated in .the

Figure?, .shows a .side Velevation oifjfone end of the machine, the creepingftread memaccompanying y'dravv- 'bers being removechandV partstbeingbroken. f

away for the better illustration yoffother parts. j. ,i

Figure .3 shows 'a detail,transverse, -verti'- cal, Vsectional yview taken on vthefline 3+3tof Figure 2, the oars of the?? endless oonveyer 'Figure shows a perspective, detail View o f-th'e means for c onneetingtwosections of' .the Conveyer ,track and 4ffranie. i' a fv Figure/5 shows a detail, perspective view "of aportio'n ofoiie ofthe large rotary membersat the end'oi theinachineA Figure 6 shows a. detail, sectional view of` ltheend of two f ad]aoent"cars, yshowingfth'e iooV man-nerin `which 'the ,cars are connected4 when substantially horizontal.;

`Figurew shows 1a j similar .viewsliowing tliel cars Afin a slightly different position, Yforni and maythen be 'advanced' over the while going around the" rotary membersat- Figures. shows ,a 't'QvP-jo plan of a, a

Cir

-one of the Vcars or conveyer member sections.

Figure 12 shows a detaihsectional view taken on the line 12-120 Figure 8, illustrating part of the mechanism for supporting the endless conveyer member and the 4frame therefor on the supporting devices.

Figure 13 shows a detail. sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 12.

' 4Figure 1-1- shows a detail,perspective view o a portion of one of the tracks illustrating the joint therein.

' Figure 15 is a detail, sectional View taken on the line 15-15 of Figure 14.'

Figure 16 is a .top or plan view of the device for coupling together two ot the cars or conveyor member sections.

Figure 17 is aside elevationfof the same,

l the aXle being shown insection.

l Figure 18 `shows a sidefelevation of one of the car wheels.

' Figure 19 shows a vertical, sectional view of said wheel.

Figure 2O shows a top or plan view o'i a small portion of one of the tracks.

Figure 21 shows aside elevation of a portion of. one end of the machine'with the deliveryr conveyer -mounted thereon.

Figure 22 is a top or plan view of part of the delivery conveyer and elevatingmechanism therefor.

Figure 23 is a transverse, detail. sectional view talren onthe line 253-23 ot Figure 21.

Figure 211 is a detail, sectional view taken taken on the line 2li-211 of lFigure 22; and

Figure 25 is a detail, sectional view oia modified form of the track and frame supportino' device.

At the opposite ends of our machine there vare provided suitable supporting devices.

1n lthe drawings herewith which illustrate a form in which our invention may be embodied, we have shown creeping tread devices. indicated by the reference numeral 10 for supporting'the ends of the machine tor portability. 1

suitably supported on the creeping' tread members 10 at each end' of the machine is a -frame of proper construction indica-ted generally by the reference character 11.

of the machine is a. rotary devicehaving :the spaced. hubs 14 tired `on the shaft y13..

Theframe 11 is provided with suitably spaced bearings 12 for a transverse shaft 13;. Mounted on the shaft 13 at eachy end,

frame members 15. The outer ends o1 the embers 15 are connected lby connecting* members 16. 'lhe members .15 extending outwardly from the respective hubs 141-, are arranged in pairs as shown for instance in Figures 3 and 5. Theadjacent members 1G on each side of the rotary Vmember are s aced a art and are connectedy with each members 15 by plates 17. These plates 17 have in their outer edges notches 18v de-l signed to receive the. axles of the cars'ior conveyer member'sections hereinafter more y liully'described. The plates 17 are also astened to the frame l,member 15.

The outery edges of the plates 17 are cut to lit against the bottoms of the cars or conveyer member sections as the carstravel .around the rotarymembers at the ends of the machine. l

Extenrling transversely between the plates 17 at the outer ends of each pair of mem-V bers 15 are angle-bars 19 spaced from each `other crcumferentially of the rota-ry'member.

At' suitable points in the ylength of rthe machine we have provided supporting devices which may in each instance consists of `a-pair lof laterally spaced .wheels 20 connected by an axle .which may be in the form of a channel bar 21.

Secured to the axle 21 near the middle thereohand projecting therefrom longitudinally of the machine is a block 22. The longitudinally projecting f portion of the block 22 also projects upwardly and `downwardly from the axle 21, and the upper surface ot the upwardly projecting portion is `curved'i'rom its central part laterally and `downwardly in both directions` while the lowerrsurface of the downwardly .projecting portionv is curved laterally and up` wardly in both directions from its central portion, as indicated at 23 and 24: (Fig. v13). Extending: from theV top to bottom through eachblock 22 is av holef25, which receives what we'may call a king' -pin 26, which at its upper and lower endsis conneeted with longitudinally extendingchan-y nel bars 27 and 2S. lhe hole-25'is gradually enlarged laterally in both directions from itscentral portion to the topfoiE the block 22 and to the bottom oit ythe-block 22p, to permit the king pin 26t0 rock laterally in said hole. A L- f f 1n Figure 25 we havel shown a modilied form of the block 22, indicated by the-numeral22a, which has extending through itA y from top to bottom a hole '23a for the'lrinp;` .pin 26, which hole is gradually vwidened lat-. erally from top to bottom ofthe block 22a. n

At the ends ofthe respective channel bars l 27 and 28 arecross 'frame members 29, Aand 30. The ends of the cross trame members 29 and. SOat the opposite sides of thermachine are connected by uprightframe members 31. Suitably supported at the upper ends of the -members 31 are the track members 32 which may; be made of angle-iron, and supported on the lower ends of' the upri ht members 31 are the track `members 33, a so preferably made of angle-iron. y

It will be notedv that the upperj and-lower tracks are so arranged that the .wheels of the cars, forming part of the endless conveyer, are supported on 4the traekwhether `the .cars are vthen forming part of the'upper Jdie rotary members at the end of the inachine, it may'be said that the upper track members 32 extend to the said adjacent rotary member andare curved downwardly around the outer parts of the said rotary l.

member, as illustrated in Figure 21, lthe curved Vportion being indicated byrthe reference character 35. rlhe lower track .mem-- bers extend to the adjacent rotary member, andare curved around the outside thereof, spaced from and outside lthe portion '35,. as indicated at 36.

The upper and lower` track members are connected between the ends of the machine and the next adjacent supporting wheels 20 by frame members 37. 1

The upper and lower track members are spaced apart farther at the en-ds of the Ymachine than at the central portionsthereof, so that the tracksextend upwardly slightly from the pair of wheels 20 nearest the end of the machine toward the end of the machine in their upper stretch.

As many sections of track and track supporting frame may be inserted between the pair of wheels next to one end of the inachine, and the pair of wheels next to the other end of the machine as may be desired.

Each section includes a. supporting device such as that shown in Figures Sand 10, and heretofore described, Aa `track* supporting frame and track members thereon, similar to those already described. 'Foiconnecting two sections oftrack and track sup-l porting frame, the following ,means have been provided.

The laterally spaced track members32 of' the upper track are connected by cross frame members 38 at suitable intervals, and .the

lower track members are connected by siin- Y ilar cross y'members' 39, which ,are spaced above the track members 33 and are connectdental displacement. n

ed at their ends with the-upright members31 A* orthe upright members 37. At the adjacent ends of the two sections of the tracksup.- porting ,frame and track, each ofsaid sections is provided with apair of laterally spaced upright channel-bar frame members They members -40` of each vsection are `connected by,A vertically'spaced cross inembers 41. Secured between y the channels ,-41

at one end of'each section of track lsupporting frame is a block 42 mounted in which fis a projecting-ieye-bolt 43.v

opening toward. each other, and receiving Sel cured .between the channels'41ofthe oppos1te end of each track supportingframe section, is .a .pair of .channel-"bar members# andholding between them a block 44. These;

last channel-bar members are numbered-45.

' Slidably received in the block 44 is abar 46 which lmaybe adjustablyjsecured invarious positions by means kot a bolt 47, yextending through the channel-bars 45 and through one of a series of holes 48v in the bar46. At one end of the bar 46 is aV hook lmember 49y designed -to f be; received in the, eyefof the eye-bolt 43 for yforming a i'iiiiversalv joint.

Extended through the hook member 49v is a l screw-bolt 50 whereby the hook member 49 and the eye-bolt are locked against acci- We shall now describe the zinethodv of jointedly connecting the ltracksof two sections .of conveyer tracks an-d. supporting frames. Y

In Figures 14 and 15 we have illustrated one of ,the `vjointsin the track At the oint between sections of` track the ends 'of the track members 32, for instance, adjacentA to each other` at the vjointsare vspaced apart and yconnectedfbyV a jointed` track memberconsisting of the horizontalvflange 51-and the .Vertical flange 52. These lflanges are provided with horizontally elongated slots 53 and 54 which receive-serew-bolts which. Abolts are` fastened to the or 33 as the case maybe.

It ywill be seen that 'by pr track members' 32 semble-,the machine, land to-connectthe track sections together ina series,

j oviding 4:the elongated slots it is easy to originally as- The .flangef52 is lprovided with rva` joint 56 shown tin Figure l14. The flange 51 'adjacent to thehinged joint 56 is split as at 57, l y j n Vallow for-thefree movement of the 'trackl and l,is providedgwithv ,an notch asshown, to

members according to.- the action of the lling@ 56. I. 1 l y 1 c n The-flangel vis provided with'a hinge 53, andlthef-ange 52 adjacent tosaidhinge' is s'plitand provided with a suitablelnotch f to 'permitproper-actionv of the 'hing'ea5 8.`

It will be. seen that bythe provision 'of -the 'hinges-just described, the tracks, are

made to a certain'extentv flexible: .That is to say, one section of track may be bent upwardly or downwardly with relation to the adjacent section, or may be bent laterally in either direction with relation to the adjacent section. nsomuch as the track supporting frame Ais connected by 'the track members, it will be seen that the whole cona series of cars or conveyer members con-y nected together in a manner which will now be described.

p Each of said cars or conveyer members comprises al bottom and side members 6l.

vThe side members 61 have voutwardly extending flanges 62at their upper edges, which at one end of the. car terminate slightly short of the end of the car.

Extending across the car beneath the bottom thereof and near one end of the car, is

'i an axle 63, on the ends of which are wheels 64. At the sides of the car near the ends thereof are upright braces 65 onthe outer sides of the side walls, which have at their ends bearings 66 for the axle.

Near the middle of the car an angle-iron brace extends entirely around the sides and bottom of the car, as indicated by the reference character 67.

One endv of each car is telescoped within the adjacent end of the next car when the cars are horizontal. f

The bottom of each car at one end is inclined slightly downwardly as atv 69 (see Figure 7). In Figures 16 and 17 we have shown secured to the bottom of each car near the end thereof a plate 70, having: a tongue or the like 71 projecting toward the next adjacent car.

Formed on the tongue v71 is a socket 72.

Extending across the socket is a pin 7 3. @ne

. or more connecting links 74 are arranged with their ends projectedinto the socketsI 72 mounted on the pin 73.

Secured to the bottomof the other end of each car underneath the car, is a plate 7 having a pair of spaced'arms or the like 7 6,

projecting toward the next adjacent car.

Extending through the arms 76 1s the axle 68. The links 74 .project between the arms'7 6 andare mounted on the axle 66.

` It will be noted that the socket 72 is provided with a shoulder 77, and that the arms 76 are provided with shoulders 78, the purthat the space in the interior of the socket 72 is slightly greater laterally than the lateral thickness of the link 74,so as to allow said link to slide laterally somewhat on the pin 73, for permitting sufficient play of the parts to permit the lateral flexibility of the entire machine. Such lateral lexibilityis also made possible by the peculiar shape of the holes 79.

The ends of the arm 76 farthest from the plate and adjacent to the bottom of the car are bevelled as at 80, so as not to interfere withl the bottom of the adjacent ear when the cars are going around the rotary member at'the end ofthe machine.

The downwardly turned bottom member.

link 74. At the end of the axle 63 are reduced spindles 82, on which are mounted the wheels 64, shown in Figures 18 and 19, which wheels consist of a hub, comprising a sleeve 88, having at one end a flange 84. Mounted on the sleeve 83 is a wooden wheel member 85 in which the flange 84 is counter-sunk as illustrated inFigure 19.

A dise 86 is mounted on the sleeve 83 at the end thereof opposite the flange 84, and said flange 84 and disc 86 and wooden wheel member 85 are clamped together by suitable bolts 87.

Pressed on the periphery of the wooden wheel member 85 is a metal tire 88. For steering the wheels 2Oy of the various sections of-the track and track supporting frame, we vhave provided the following means.

Secured to the axle 21 and extending longitudinally along the machine therefrom, is a rod 89 having in its end farthest removed from the axle a screw-threaded bearing 90 in which is mounted a screw-threaded.

shaft 91. Y

Brace members 92 extend from the frame member 89 diagonally -to the axle 21 to which they are secured. A

The ends of the shaft 91 are rotatably but non-slidably mounted in any suitable way on some of the frame members which support the track.

Onv one end of the shaft 91 there is detachably'mounted a crank' 93 by means of a set-screw 94. It will be seen that by manipulating the crank 93 and thereby rotating` the kshaft 91, the bea-ring 90 willvbe shoved laterally in the machine, and the engine 97.

wheels Q0 may be moved to a variety ofpositions for steering'them.

In Figure 8 we have shown in dottcdlines one position to which the wheels may be moved for the purposes mentioned.

It may be here mentioned that the ,rod"89 `is connected with the bearing 90l by a short link 95 andy suitable bolts or the 1le796 with such play among the members asfto permit the :steering operation;

Suitably supported on the trame members which support the'track near one end oi' the machine is a power device suoli as a Lgasolen'e Supported on the frame members 15 on one sideof a adjacentrotary de vice is asprocket gea-r 98, which is connected with the engine 97 by means of a chain 99. It will be understood that power may be ap'- plied for operating the endless co-nveyer device in a great variety of ways, and vwe have simply illustrated the form shownv as one possiblemethod of accomplishing the ,pur-

pose. It will beunderstood also thatithe creeping -tread devices 1() may rbe Connected with tractor mechanism, so vthat' the entiredevice Ymay be drawn over the? ground with its own power when desired.

In the practical operation of ourimproved machine, the machine is located soV thatone end is adjacent to the diggingand loading device, sucl1`for instance, as a steam shovel,

and the other end is located adjacent to the,

is operated from the engine 97. It willl bei seen from the description of themechanismalready given, that. the endless conveyer is capable of .travelling vin either direction and V it will be understood that any suitable sort olf-reversing mechanism may be employedin connection with the engine 97.

' When the rotary member which is operatively connected with the engine isfrotated it will be seen that the aille or shaft {S3- oi each car as it starts around the rotary-,mem-

ber'is received in'the pocketiormed'bythe notches 18 and betweenthe angles 19.

In the case of the car travelling upwardly from the lower part around the end of the machine and over, the upper part ofthefro- G0 tary member, it willlcel seen-that o-ne'loflthe angle frame members 19 engage'stheshoul'der "f7 (see Figures 5, 17and 2)'for carry1ng the train-ofcars around'the rotary memben The rotary member isvsmall enough so vthat in gsuchV course of itra'vel of the cars, ithe cars` which first; engage the rotary member havetheirshoulders i7 8 insnugandi complete engagement witlritheV cross member 19* which are leaving l the rotary member v are `not' so snuglyengagedl Thej vprinciple is fthe 4saine as th'at of `:the construction olf a ywhereas the shoulders on th e cross members Y 70.

sprocket and chain to prevent buckling, andH .to, prevent the chain links or the crossmembers, which corresp ond to-:chain links, from jumping out of fthe nOt'che'sin the` sprocket corresponding to our rotary member. n.

The dirt or other material is loaded into the cars at the, receiving end of the machine and.; iswconveyed .to thel discharging end .where "we ;have prov1ded thexswmgmg'dls-g y charge v co'nveye'r hereinafter more fully ydescribed. f

n ,Win be senaat the main portion "O f.la 85 kpentine shape for conveying ldirtVrOm )one vpoint-'etc another, and maybe ymade to re -tain such shapeby properly adjusting the the machine may, be given a curved or sersupportingwheels 20.

It will be` noted, vvfor instance,' =that; one end of the machine may befarrangedat one side from the center of the road, 'anda-parranged inthe center .of the vroad parallel therewith. V

allel therewith, whilelthecentral part ofthe vmachine maybe curved into the road, and; vthe `other fend of the'fmachine may be ar- Byy setting vall of the .supporting wheels I in position wh'erethey'tend to ,travelv par- Y 100 vvanced longitudinally oftheroad andiwillallel withy the road, th'emachine :may be adlretain -its serpentine shape. n

ture of our invention.

It will be noted'thatthe-m'achine -is so constructed vthat 4the cars comprising the members .of-the endless conveyer may 'be caused `to travel ineither direction, and it yis important that; the machine' should rbe made to travel in both'direction's.

@In-:Figures 211to24-inclusive we have vshown a swinging delivery -fconveyer .which maybe detachably mounted on eitherend v ofthe machine.' l

Supported on vthe .mainframe` ofthe; machine :are -iramev members @110. v Supported 'on' the iframe` members 110 isanfuprightshaitlll.. Supported ron y thenpperend of 111 to rotate `freely.V Y, f

the shaft 111 isanQL-shaped conveyer memy l ber 112 Soarranged as to,permit the:s lrllilgft,

Mounted onthe walls of theLpfshapedifde livery member 112 is atransverse-shaft 1.13.

Supported fon. the shaft :113 are hangers 114:`

whichlsupportth'e frame 111.5 of the-swinging conveyer comprising side walls and a, co n .nectingfbottom iwall. f f

Near the discharge end of the delivery l yes.

i sprockets 123 and 122. On lthe shaft 124 is a bevelled gear 126 which meshes with a bevelled gear 127 on the shaft 111.

On the shaft 111 is a bevelled gear 128 meshingwith a bevelledgear 129 on a shaft 130, which may-be connected with any suitable source of power, whereby rotation may be imparted to the shaft 113 and the sprockets 118 thereon for causing travel of the chains 120.

It will be noted that the conveyer frame 115 is pivotally supported at the center of the shaft 113, so lthat the out-er end of the conveyer frame 115 may be raised or lowered without interfering with the gearing connections between the shaft 113 and the shaft 130.

Supported on the frame 110 are bracket members 131, which are connected with and support a hopper 132. The hopper 132 has a cylindrical lower end 133 adapted to coact with a similar end 134 at the upper end of the delivery member 112, so as to hermit the delivery member 112 to rotate Vfreely with relation to the hopper 132 without interfering with the discharge of dirt or the vlike from the hopper 132 to and through the delivery member 112. The otherend of the delivery member 112 projects into the conveyer frame 115.

t pulley 136 and wound on the drum 138.

It will be seen that the conveyer member v115 may be swung laterally to dierent positions for discharging dirt at different points with relation to the main machine, on the sha-ft 111 as a pivot.

At the upper end ofthe frame members `110 is a. frame member` 135, to which is swiveled a pulley 136.

Supported on the upper ends of the frame members 110 is a transverse shaft 137 on which is a drum 138. At the outer or discharge 'end of the conveyer frame v115 are supporting bracket` members 139 to which there is secured a cable 140. This cable is extended over the On the shaft 137 is a sprocket 141 in line with a. sprocket 142 on a shaft 143 supported on the frame of the machine.

A chain 144 travels on the sprockets 141 and 142. On the shaft 143 is a gear 145 which meshes with a smaller gear 146 on a shaft 147. On the shaft 147 is a crank han By manipulating ythe crank handle 148 the `gear 146 may be rotated for winding or unwinding the cable 140 on the drum 138.

|The hopper 132 is provided with a snout or receiving end 151 which projects into the series of cars hereinbefore described.

On the bottom of the snout 151 is a lroller 152 designed to travel on the bottoms of the cars so as to hold the receiving end of the snout 151 slightly spaced from the bottom of the cars a sufficient dista-nce to prevent the snout from catching.

A spring 153 holds the snout snuglylin'its position for causing it to almost scrape the bottom of the main endless conveyer so that as the endless conveyer cars or members travel past the snout, their contents will be dropped into the hopper 132, whence such contents will drop into the delivery member 112. The blades will then carry the dirt or other contents to the discharge end of the delivery frame 115.

For convenience in discharging the coni tents of the conveyer frame 115at any point in the lengththereof we have provided Vthe following structure. l

In the side walls of the conveyer frame 115- and the slots 155 overlap the upper halves of the slots 156, as illustrated in Figure 21.

There are provided slidable bottom mem-V bers 157, 158, and l159.

Secured `to the respective bottom mem- ,bersv 157, 158, and 159 are laterally extending pins 160 which project through the slots 154, 155 and 156 for slidably supporting said bottom members. A suiiicient number of the pins for the purpose are provided tor form handles for the convenient manipula-- tion of the slidable bottom members.

It will be seen that if it is desired to discharge dirt from the end ofthe conveyer frame 115, the movable bottom members arel lleft at their positions 'nearest lthe dis- `charge end and the blade members will carry the dirt to such discharge end. If, however, it is desired to discharge dirt at a point intermediate of the ends of` l the conveyer frame 115,1lthe slidable member 157, 158 or 159 as the case may be is slid toward the receiving end of said conveyerV member 1,15,` leaving anl opening-in thelbot'i toniv of the' discharge conveyer .through which the dirt may bedropped.

It will be seeny that the. discharge endof` the discharge conveyerinay be raised or lowered by operating the crank handle 148 meansfor connecting them to permit the for swinging thedischarge conveyer ktodit- :terent points, or` orfholding itout of the way` -during the travel'of the main machine.

It will also be, seen that the discharge con-.

veyermay be swung aroiindto different discharging positions on the shaft lll as a break 'in' the track when the-'machine' curved. ,f y

Attention is' called -in this connection to the advantage of the peculiar construction of the cars'v or conveyerl members, and the flexibility hereinbefore mentioned. y v

Attention yis alsocalled tothe advantage of suspending the conveyerlfraine, tracks, and conveyer members at points abovethe center of gravity of the "machine, and in such `a way that .thev conveyer frame and Atracks will 'alwayshang in horizontal position regardless olfA unevenness of the ground,`r or of the position of the supportingwheels- Attention is also called-to the advantage of the steering deviceshereinbefore shown, arranged Aat various points lin the length oi the conveyer, so thatthe conveyer 'may bev made to travelin almost Vany desired path by adjusting 'the steering devices, or by llocking them in certain positions.

Ordinarily dirtis moved from a high pointtoa low point, and it will be noted that vin lmoving dirt with our device less power isrequired, on account of lthe above tact.

Some changes may bemade 1n the construction andv arrangementof the various parts oi our improved device without departing from the essential features 'and pur-k posesof our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims any niodiiied-'forms of structure or `use of mechanicall equivz'ilents` which may be reasonablyincluded within.

their scope. 'p f Vile' claim as our invention:I ,Y .Y

,1. A portable endless conveyer" compris- 'inga series of units, each having supporting wheels and each having frames' with tracks Nsupported thereon,4th'e tracksof thel respec'A tive units being flexibly connected together ii'or vertical and'horizon'tal. pivotal movement, and an endless conveyerarranged to travel on said tracks. l

ing a seriesof units, each'having supportiiig1y wheels and each, having frames with tracks supported thereon, the tracks of the respec- 2. AnportablejV 'endlessI conveyer 'comprisQdiy 65 tive units being. `flexibly,'connected together K for verticall and horizontalv pivotal movement, and an endless conveyer arranged to travelton said tracks, said supporting wheels' being steerable, and means for locking and" I holding said supporting wheelsfin any of their adjusted steera'ble positions.

3. A 'portable Vendless* conveyer compris-Q;

' ing a series of units, each having supporting wheels andeach having frames with tracks supported'thereon, the tracks ofthe respectivel units? being flexibly 'connected' together for .vertical and horizontal pivotal vmoveyment', and an endless conveyer arranged to travel on saidtracks, said tracks being hun@V tions of the g supporting wheels.

so as to'remain level in ally the-adjusted plosi- 'Y f '85 i 4.' portable endless conveyer compris-jv ing a series otunits, each having supporting y wheels and each having frames with tracks A supportedthereom the tracks ofthe respec tive unitsjbeing flexibly connected together for vertical and horizontal pivotal move; ment, and an endless oonveyer'arranged' to travelfon lsaid tracks, said supporting Wheels being steerable, and means forlocking'aiid holding lsaid supportingwheelsfinany` of their adjriist'ed'Y positions, said tracksbeingv hung soastoremain level in all the ad?` `justedjpositions lofthe supporting wheels.

' 15. In a device otthe yclass described,an

endless conveyer having a series of conveyer members arranged'successively end'toend with -overlapping ends, said conveyerfmembers each having a bottom Vand, sides, supporting wheels on the respective'conveyer members, said conveyer members being Flexi# bly/.connected together, trackson"which said wheelsinay travel forfsupporting said endless conveyer, said tracks being comprised of sections flexibly connectedv together for .f

relative movement invertlical and horizontal planes, va frame for supporting said ltracks .coi'nprisin-g a series vof'fsections flexibly connected vtogether for relative-movement int .supports for the respective sections ofsaid 6;"In` a device ofthe* classldesc'ribed," i

endless conveyer having' a series of conveyer members 1 arranged v'successively' end. to end bers fea'ch having a bottom and: sides, sup"-` portingy wheels on the respective vconveyer members, said conveyer members being ilexi- `bly,connected"together,tracks on whichsaid lwheels may travel for supporting said endless"y Lconveyer-,said` tracks being comprised verticaly and-horizontal planes, and wheelof' sections flexibly v'connected together for y relative movement iny vertical' and. horizontal f f planes,.a iframe for supporting,saidtracks I vtraine, said Wheel supports in each instance comprising an axle, vhaving Wheels thereon, means Jror pivot-ally hanging a frame section on said axle, and means for connecting each axle With a trame sect-ion at a point spaced from the axle, said last-named means being adjustable for moving the axle for steering said wheels.

7. n a device of the class described, an endless conveyer having a series of conveyer members arranged successively end to end with overlapping ends, said Aconveyer members each having a bottom and sides, supporting Wheels onv therespective conveyer members, said conveyer members be-y ing flexibly connected together, tracks on which said Wheels may travel for supporting said endless conveyer, said tracks being comprised of sections liexibly connected together for relative movement in vertical and horizontal planes, a :trame for supporting said tracks comprising aseri'es of sectionsiiexibly connected together for relative movement in vertical and horizontal planes, and Wheel supports for the respective sections of said frame, said wheel supports in each instance comprising an axle, having Wheels thereon, means for pivotally hanging a trame section on said axle, and means for connecting each axle With a trame section at a point spaced from the axle, said last-named means being adjustable for moving the axle for steering said Wheels and being adapted to beheld against displacement from any adjusted position.

8. In a device of the class described, supporting members, frames, track portions on said frames. means for connecting various sections of the frame and track portions t0- gether for permitting flexibility between sections, and means for supporting the trame on said supporting members at points above the center ot gravity of the machine lor universal movement, so that the frame and tracks will hang in substantially hoii- Zontal position, regardless `oit variations in ythe positions of the supporting` members and a flexible conveyer arranged to travel on said track portions.

9. An endless conveyer comprising a` plurality of sections, each of said sections having a supporting device, a frame structure hung on said supporting device, above the center of gravity of the machine for universal movement, and track portions on said trame structure, means for connecting the ramestructure and tracks of adjacent sections Vfor permitting vthe machine to have flexibility, rotary devices at the ends of said machine, and an endless convever arranged to travel on said tracks and/rotary devices.

10. A conveyer,comprising rotary ineinbers at its ends,ran endless conveyer comi prising a. series of unitsflexibly connected '1 together, said unitseachhaving a bottom and sides, each unit of said endless conveyer having supporting Wheels, tracks for said supporting Wheels, comprising sections conneeted together, frame sections for support, ing said tracks., said track sections' and iframe sections being connected. for flexible' said supporting wheels, comprising sections 'A connected together, frame sections for supporting Vsaid tracks, vsaid, track sections and frame sections being connected for flexible movement in vertical and horizontal planes, and steerable Wheels for each frame section.

l2. A conveyer, comprisingV rotarymemf bers at its ends, an endless conveyer com'- prising a series off units flexibly connected f together, said vunits eaehhaving a bottom and lside':s,each unit ot' said 'endless conveyerk having supporting Wheels,` tracks for said supporting yWheels, comprising sections connected together, frame sections for support Y ing said. tracks, said Itrack sections and'v frame sectionsbeing.connected for flexible movement in vertical and horizontal planes, a Wheel supported axleforeachkytrame seenk tion and meansrifor pivotally hanging each frame section on-its axle. Y v -v 13. A conveyer, comprising rotaryinem-Y bers at its ends, an endless conveyer ,com-

prising a series of unitsflexibly connected together, said units each having a bottom ico and sides, each unit of said endless conveyer having supporting wheels, tracks for said supporting wheels, comprising sections' connected together, "frame sections vtoi' support i ing said tracks, saidv track sections yand frame sections being connected for flexible movement in vertical andhoriaontal planes, a Wheel supported vaxle for each'flirame sec` tion and means for pivotally hanging each Ytraine section onits axle, means v:tor con,-

necting eachaxle with its frame section at a point spaced from the axle. j

14. A conveyer, comprising rotary mein,-

lli)

bers at its enchfan endless conveyer comprising a series ot units llexibly connected together, said units'each 4having a bottomy and sides, each unit of said endless conveyer vhaving su) ort-infr Wheels tracks for said s l e i supporting wheels, comprising sections connected together, trame-sections tor supporting said tracks, said track sections and 4rame sections being connected for flexible movement in vertical and horizontal planes',

lsaid axle.

15. A conveyer, comprising rotary members at its ends, an endless conveyer, comprising a series of units flexibly connected together, said units each having a bottom and sides, each unit of said endless conveyer having supporting Wheels, tracks for said supporting Wheels comprising sections co-nnected together, frameysections for supporting said tracks, said track sections and frame sections being connected for flexible movement in vertical and horizontal planes, a Wheel supported axle for each frame section, means for pivotally hanging each frame section on its axle, means for connecting each axle with its frame section at a point spaced from the axle, said means being adjustable for varying the position of said axle and comprising a member fixed to the axle and projecting substantially longitudinally With relation to the machine and having a screw-threaded end and loose pivotal connection with said last member.

16. In a device of the class described,` an endless conveyer structure comprising a series of connected car members, tracks for supporting said car members, trame devices 'or supporting said tracks, and means for pivotally supporting said frame devices at points above the center of gravity of the machine for universal movement.

17. In a device'I of the class described, an endless conveyer structure comprising a series of connected car members, tracks for supporting said car members, frame devices for supporting said tracks, means for pivotally supporting said Jframe devices for universal movement atpoints above theycenter of gravity :of the machine, said means including adjustable supporting members.

18. In a device kofthe class described, an

endless conveyer structure comprising a series vo-i' connected car members, tracks for supporting said car members, frame devices for supporting said tracks, means for pivotally supporting said frame devices at points above the 'center of gravity of the machine for universal movement, said means including adjustable steerable supporting members.

19. In a device of the class described, an endless conveyer structure comprising a series of connected car members, tracks for supporting said car members, frame devices for supporting said tracks, means for pivotally supporting said frame devices at points above the center'of gravity of ethe machine for universal-movement, rotary members at the o-pposite ends of said device, coacting means on said upright members, and car members whereby when the rotary members are rotated, the endless conveyer structure Will be moved, and means for imparting rotation to one of the rotary members. Y

20. Inpa device ofitheclass described, an endless conveyer structure comprising .a series of connected car members, tracks `for supporting said car members, yframe devices for supporting said tracks,means Jfor pivotally supporting said frame devices at points above the center of gravity of the machine, and tractor devices at the ends of the ma# chine. v i Des Moines, Iowa, March 5, 1920.

WILLIAM G. HOWE. FRED RAY WHITE. 

